CNI News

13 October 2023

Armed organizations should weigh to minimize the public casualty, said Lway Chee Sangar, spokesperson of the Ta'ang Women Organization (TWO), to CNI News. 

Fighting should be avoided in urban areas and villages where the people are living and the organizations should have known that the public causality can arise if the battles break out in these places, she added.

" Fighting or other military operations should not be conducted near towns or cities and villages. The organizations should consider or study how much battles can harm the public in advance. Considering this in advance can reduce the public causality a bit, I think." she said.

Because of the political landscapes that arose after 1 February 2021, armed conflicts have been breaking out across the country. 

IDPs who arrived in Shinletwa, Paletwa Township because of the battles between the Tatmadaw and the AA in 2017

Due to these conflicts, people were killed and houses were set on fire and hospitals, schools and religious buildings were damaged and people had to be displaced.

Any armed organization needed to carry out so as not to raise civilian casualty, said U Kun Gawng Awng Hkam, a Kachin politician, to CNI News. 

" It depends on both the military council and revolutionary organization. Many villages of our Kachin people were all damaged and set on fire. Armed organization and revolution are unavoidable. If the organizations want to be o?one with the public, they need to avoid fighting near towns and villages. Otherwise, after the hatred grows, these images will remain for generations to come. How should it be done? How should it be avoided? It depends on the Tatmadaw. No matter what organization killed or set fire, we don't like doing these things. So, I'd like to tell them to avoid doing these things." said U Kun Gawng Awng Hkam.

According to the latest UN figures as of October 2, 2023, there are nearly 2 million IDPs across the country, the UNOCHA stated on 12 October 2023. 

1.7 million people had to be displaced because of conflicts and insecurities that have appeared after the civilian government was toppled down by the Tatmadaw on 1 February 2021, said in the statement.